Satin Sheets and Strawberries by Marcia Evanick Read Free Book Online Page B

in for dinner soon."
    "But I still have a lot of painting to do."
    The lantern caught on the first try. As he adjusted the flame he said, "You can do it after dinner."
    "This is my house, my business, and my painting. I will eat dinner when I’m good and ready."
    Logan smiled at the resentment in her voice. So Miss Polite had a temper after all. He was glad. "Aunt Ruth went to a lot of trouble to fix dinner for you, the least you can do is eat it."
    She picked up assorted brushes and dropped them into an old Flintstone jelly glass filled with soapy water. She pulled the two top sweatshirts over her head and dropped them over the chair. Yanking off the gloves, she called to Tinkerbell. "Come on, girl. Din-din time. I’ve suddenly developed a raging appetite."
    Logan stood in the middle of the shed and chuckled as the door slammed behind her and the dog. So the Fairy Queen had a temper—one to match the passion he’d tasted. With a wistful sigh for things that could never be, he turned the lantern and heater down and slowly followed Kelli back to the house.
    He found Ruth and Henry quietly playing a game of checkers in the living room while Kelli fed logs into the wood stove. Her face was flushed with heat as she turned from the stove and looked at him. "I’ll go warm up our dinner."
    "Thanks. I’ll go get another pile of wood for later." With a smile he left the room and headed back outside.
    Ruth and Henry smiled at each other as Kelli turned toward the kitchen. Without saying a word they picked up the checkers and board and headed for their coats. As they passed through the kitchen, Ruth said, "We’re heading home now. There’s some rice pudding in the refrigerator for dessert."
    Kelli slid two full plates into the warm oven. "Thanks for the dinner Ruth. I’m sorry I didn’t come in before."
    "Nonsense, child. You can eat anytime you want."
    She smiled at the older couple. "Henry, I saw all those trees you marked today. That should keep Josh busy tomorrow afternoon. Thanks."
    "Josh is going to have a hard time taking that chain saw away from Logan. He was cutting down trees and limbs like a lumberjack today, and seemed to be enjoying himself."
    "I’m sure that he’ll be bored by it soon. They probably don’t have an abundance of trees in the Sudan."
    Henry’s smile faded as he studied the young woman in front of him. "You could be right, but I’ve never known Logan to become bored with anything." He quietly pulled on his coat, reached for Ruth’s hand, and the two of them headed out the door. "Good night," they called.
    Kelli placed silverware and drinks for two on the small kitchen table. Henry was right; Logan didn’t seem to be the kind of man who became bored easily. So how long would he stay here? There was nothing here for him except Ruth and Henry. When was he scheduled to go back to Sudan and the oil fields? Logan returned and dumped a pile of logs by the hearth in the living room. She carefully took the hot plates from the oven as he hung up his windbreaker and washed up.
    He had barely sat down when Kelli asked, "When are you returning to Sudan?"
    He swallowed a mouthful of mashed potatoes. "I’m not sure."
    Kelli’s fingers trembled as she cut into her pork chop. "Why not?"
    "I’ve got a lot of things to clear up here first."
    "Meaning Ruth and Henry?"
    Compassion shone in his eyes as he carefully set his fork down on his plate. "I’m sorry, Kelli, but when I leave here they will be going with me. It’s the right thing for all of us."
    With a sudden movement she stood up and faced her rival. "Possession is nine tenths of the law, and since they live here, they’re mine. You can’t have them."
    In frustrated silence Logan watched as Kelli grabbed her coat and slammed out the door. What could he possibly say that would make her understand? They were his family, and he needed them too.

     
     
     
     

Chapter Four
     
    After Kelli had stormed out, Logan spent a quiet evening alone with only